Bayern warm up as Hoffenheim feel the chill

FC Bayern München kicked off the new year with a bang on Tuesday, beating VfB Stuttgart 5-1 in the German Cup and sending out a stern warning in the process: they will once again be the team to beat in 2009.
 
'At our best'
Following an average start to the season, Bayern stepped up a gear during the autumn and went into the winter break eleven league games unbeaten. They showed no sign of letting up in their first game of the new year against Stuttgart. Bayern restart their Bundesliga campaign at Hamburger SV on Friday level at the summit with TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, and coach Jürgen Klinsmann fully expects them to kick on from here. "There's nothing to criticise about our performance," Klinsmann said. "There was lots of movement, even without the ball. The goals came almost on autopilot. We're at our best and prepared for the next four months."

'Fun'
Bayern were in full stride in December and the winter break seemed to have come at the wrong time. Tuesday's result, however, suggests they have conserved their energy and are raring to again. In their last match of 2008, on 13 December, Bayern drew 2-2 with Stuttgart, but this time they outclassed their rivals with early goals from Bastian Schweinsteiger and Franck Ribéry setting them on their way. The result would have been put totally beyond doubt had Ribéry not seen his cheeky chipped penalty saved by Jens Lehmann in the 21st minute. "I just wanted to have fun," said Ribéry, his attitude epitomising the confidence coursing through Bayern. Further goals from Luca Toni, Schweinsteiger, another penalty, and Zé Roberto completed the rout before Mario Gómez pulled one back late on.

Ibišević blow
While expectations are sky high in Bavaria, Hoffenheim, first on goal difference, are feeling the winter chill. The loss of Bundesliga top scorer Vedad Ibišević, who scored 18 goals in 17 league games prior to the break, for the rest of the season after he tore cruciate ligaments in a friendly against Hamburg a fortnight ago has dampened their hopes. To make matters worse, Hoffenheim will be without playmaker Carlos Eduardo for two matches through suspension after he was sent off for fighting with HSV's Ivica Olić in the same game. Striker Chinedu Obasi, meanwhile, is recovering from a torn muscle, and €5m forward Wellington "still has a long way to go before he will be starting in the Bundesliga", according to coach Ralf Rangnick.

Rangnick concerns
Rangnick admits that while he loves to play with three strikers, he may have to change tack given the lack of attacking options available to him now. "It would be naïve to think we can continue to play the attacking football we played in the first 17 matches," he said. "Maybe we can produce the best defence in the second half of the season." Demba Ba has been employed as a lone striker in recent friendlies, but the arrival of Boubacar Sanogo on loan from Werder Bremen will provide more options.

Bayern favourites
The 50-year-old Rangnick, though, does not consider his side as serious title challengers. "It is unrealistic to think we will win any titles," he said. "If we finish fifth or sixth it would be normal. Unless the world is turned upside down Bayern will win the league." This is a notion shared by former Bayern and now Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld. "You have to assume Bayern will win the title early," he said. "Jürgen Klinsmann has got the team winning again, even when they play badly." Much might depend on Bayern's UEFA Champions League commitments with a last 16 tie with Sporting Clube de Portugal on the horizon, but as defender Philipp Lahm suggests, they are not lacking in confidence. "On the national level, we can only beat ourselves now," he said.